Bessie Campbell album of photographs, autographs, postcards, and drawings, ca. 1906-1920

PXB 1732

fonds

ca. 1906-1920

Graphic Materials, Textual Records, Photographs, Drawings, Ephemera, Clippings

9614629

Approximately 50 photographs (includes postcards) - gelatin silver
10 drawings - pen and ink, watercolour, pastel (visual work)
Approximately 40 items of ephemera, textual material, and clippings

Elizabeth (Bessie) Campbell (1870-1964) was a banjoist, born in Melbourne. She first took interest in the banjo after having lessons while the family was living in London for a year (1884) and continued to learn when returning to Sydney.
In 1907, billed as 'The Banjo Queen', she toured the northern rivers with the National Concert Company. She was often accompanied on the piano by her sister Fanny.
Campbell made friends with many theatre people, such as Nellie Stewart.
During World War I, at the peak of her professional career, she gave frequent performances for servicemen and the Australian Red Cross Society.

Reference:
Library correspondence file

An album of photographs, autographs, drawings, postcards and manuscript dedications, as well as loose photographs and ephemera, ca. 1906-1920.
Included in the album are photographic portraits (many autographed) of local and international actors, entertainers, musicians, theatre managers, entrepreneurs and authors including Nellie Stewart, Ada Ward, Bland Holt, Daisy Phillips, Nellie Fergusson, Ethel Buckley, Harry Leeds, Trixie Le Mar, Nellie and Josephine Jordan, George Darrell, George Barlow (who built the Adelphi theatre), and Edwin Geach (theatre manager and founder of Greater Union Theatres).
The album contains a number of drawings including a portrait titled 'Puss-in-Boots Panto Coy, Perth, W.A. 10/10/13' by Bert Watson, 1913, and boats on the water by Gil Hoskins, 1912.
Also included is some World War I material, with three pages of Australian soldier’s autographs from the 3rd, 4th and 5th Battalions, and ephemera relating to the Red Cross, Anzac Day 1916, and Allies Day.

Copyright restrictions may apply: Artistic works in this collection where the creator died before 1955 are all out of copyright. Artistic works where the creator died after 1955 are in copyright for the life of creator plus 70 years.
Out of copyright: Created before 1955 - applies to photographs
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Album title page inscribed 'Bessie Campbell. "Kaikoura", Selborne St. Burwood'